A year after murder, family waits for justice

Robert ZulloSenior Staff Writer

Tuesday

Oct 21, 2008 at 3:00 PM

HOUMA — Since 32-year-old Archie Solet was murdered last year during a robbery attempt in New Orleans, his family has marked 12 months’ worth of holidays, birthdays and funerals in his painfully conspicuous absence.His three sons are a year older — one just entered high school — and his large Dulac family has battled grief, anger and frustration in varying measures since Solet was killed Oct. 20, 2007, at St. Roch Avenue and North Robertson Street, a busy intersection about a mile from the edge of the French Quarter.Thousands of dollars in reward money has been raised by Solet’s friends, relatives, co-workers and his former employer. The family has closed ranks around Solet’s wife and sons, finding some measure of comfort in each other.“She’s managing the best they can; and the children, they’re doing well in school, but they have a lot of family to support them,” said Solet’s aunt, Carla Solet.A year after the killing, which one friend of the Solet family termed “a travesty,” they lack answers.And justice.No arrests have been made in Solet’s murder, one of 210 homicides in New Orleans last year, according to the city Police Department.The case is still open, New Orleans Police officer Gary Flot said. Flot would not elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation.However, Carla Solet said her nephew’s widow, Brandy Solet, has heard little from police in the last few months.“The New Orleans Police really don’t contact her that much,” Carla Solet said. “I wish that they would try and do more to try and solve his case.”Through a relative, Brandy Solet declined to be interviewed for this story.“I just think probably because it’s still hard for her to talk about it,” Carla Solet said.Raising her three sons, who range in age from 8 to 14, without their father has been difficult, especially in the face of the September hurricanes.“It’s tough because now she has to do both roles,” Carla Solet said.Solet took his Harley-Davidson motorcycle out for a ride last Oct. 20 for no particular reason while his wife and sons were out shopping, his wife has said in past interviews. A laborer who earned a living raising houses, Solet had just undergone laser eye surgery and hadn’t ridden his bike in recent weeks. The warm weather that Saturday took him all the way to the French Quarter, where he is believed to have made a wrong turn on his way back to Terrebonne.Carla Solet said the family has been told Archie was shot in the back after his teenage attackers attempted to steal his motorcycle.“All that I know is that he took a wrong turn, and this guy went up to him and wanted his motorbike,” she said. “Supposedly he gave them the bike, and he was shot in the back.”The family has been told police have a suspect and a witness, though neither will cooperate with investigators.“They have a clue. But they’re not absolutely sure because no witnesses are coming to talk,” Carla Solet said. “That’s what hurts the most, knowing that nothing’s been done about it.”A benefit poker run in March drew hundreds of bikers and other participants and raised more than $36,000 for Solet’s widow and three children, as well as for a Crimestoppers reward.But so far, the reward money has gone unclaimed, Carla Solet said.“I don’t know what we could do. I wish I knew what else we could do because he didn’t deserve what he got. He had a full life ahead of him,” Carla Solet said. “It comes to a point where you think, ‘Well I guess nothing’s going to be done.’ And it shouldn’t be that way.”The family still holds out that hope someone who saw the broad-daylight killing may eventually discover his conscience.“I pray every night that somebody’s going to come forward, but there’s a big possibility that that may never happen,” Carla Solet said.

Senior Staff Writer Robert Zullo can be reached at 850-1150 or robert.zullo@houmatoday.com.

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